North Loup, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
North Loup is a village in Valley County
, Nebraska
, United States
. The population was 339 at the 2000 census.
s from Wisconsin explored Valley County for settlement sites. In May 1872, they established a community near what is now North Loup. A post office and general store were established in 1873; in 1877, the town of North Loup was formally organized. The name was taken from the North Loup River
, in whose valley the village lies.
In 1880, the Union Pacific Railroad
completed a branch line from Grand Island
to St. Paul, Nebraska
, shortening the distance from the Valley County settlements to rail transport. In the following year, North Loup and Ord
voted for $9,000 worth of bonds to help subsidize the railroad's extension through the two towns. The rail connection from St. Paul to North Loup was completed in 1882.
The arrival of the railroad prompted a boom in North Loup, which lasted for some four years. In the course of a single year, the village's population doubled, to two hundred residents. The boom ended in 1886, when the railway line was finally completed to the county seat of Ord.
From about 1877 to 1890, the Loup valley enjoyed a series of wet years that attracted a wave of settlers, who homesteaded
even marginal agricultural land. In 1890, this ended with a series of drought years, lasting until about 1896. During this time, the valley's farmers experimented with alternative crops, among them winter wheat
and alfalfa
. In the North Loup valley, one such crop was popcorn
. The experiment was successful; in 1901, North Loup celebrated its first "Popcorn Days" celebration, which continues to be held every August.
The village grew rapidly from about 1900 to 1920. By 1915, there were over 600 residents. Growth continued, albeit very slowly, in the 1920s; the maximum population of 643 was reached in 1930. After World War II, the population declined; in 1959, the village was no longer able to support its own school district, which was merged with that of Scotia
.
, the village has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 339 people, 159 households, and 83 families residing in the village. The population density
was 823.8 people per square mile (319.2/km2). There were 192 housing units at an average density of 466.6 per square mile (180.8/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.35% White, 1.77% from other races
, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.36% of the population.
There were 159 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples
living together, 1.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.2% were non-families. 42.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 31.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $20,288, and the median income for a family was $25,750. Males had a median income of $21,750 versus $15,000 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $12,672. About 22.1% of families and 24.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.
Valley County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,647 people, 1,965 households, and 1,298 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There were 2,273 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 339 at the 2000 census.
History
In 1871, a party of Seventh Day BaptistSeventh Day Baptist
Seventh Day Baptists are Christian Baptists who observe Sabbath on the seventh-day of the week in accord with their understanding of the Biblical Sabbath for the Judeo-Christian tradition...
s from Wisconsin explored Valley County for settlement sites. In May 1872, they established a community near what is now North Loup. A post office and general store were established in 1873; in 1877, the town of North Loup was formally organized. The name was taken from the North Loup River
Loup River
The Loup River is a tributary of the Platte River, approximately long, in central Nebraska in the United States. The river drains a sparsely populated rural agricultural area on the eastern edge of the Great Plains southeast of the Sandhills...
, in whose valley the village lies.
In 1880, the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
completed a branch line from Grand Island
Grand Island, Nebraska
Grand Island is a city in and the county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 48,520 at the 2010 census.Grand Island is home to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center which is the sole agency responsible for training law enforcement officers throughout the state,...
to St. Paul, Nebraska
St. Paul, Nebraska
St. Paul is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,218 at the 2000 census.St. Paul is part of the Grand Island, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
, shortening the distance from the Valley County settlements to rail transport. In the following year, North Loup and Ord
Ord, Nebraska
Ord is a city in Valley County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,269 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Valley County. Ord was named in honor of Civil War general Edward O. C...
voted for $9,000 worth of bonds to help subsidize the railroad's extension through the two towns. The rail connection from St. Paul to North Loup was completed in 1882.
The arrival of the railroad prompted a boom in North Loup, which lasted for some four years. In the course of a single year, the village's population doubled, to two hundred residents. The boom ended in 1886, when the railway line was finally completed to the county seat of Ord.
From about 1877 to 1890, the Loup valley enjoyed a series of wet years that attracted a wave of settlers, who homesteaded
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
even marginal agricultural land. In 1890, this ended with a series of drought years, lasting until about 1896. During this time, the valley's farmers experimented with alternative crops, among them winter wheat
Winter wheat
Winter wheat is a type of wheat that is planted from September to December in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter wheat sprouts before freezing occurs, then becomes dormant until the soil warms in the spring. Winter wheat needs a few weeks of cold before being able to flower, however persistent snow...
and alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
. In the North Loup valley, one such crop was popcorn
Popcorn
Popcorn, or popping corn, is corn which expands from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn is able to pop because, like sorghum, quinoa and millet, its kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy interior. This allows pressure to build inside the kernel until an explosive...
. The experiment was successful; in 1901, North Loup celebrated its first "Popcorn Days" celebration, which continues to be held every August.
The village grew rapidly from about 1900 to 1920. By 1915, there were over 600 residents. Growth continued, albeit very slowly, in the 1920s; the maximum population of 643 was reached in 1930. After World War II, the population declined; in 1959, the village was no longer able to support its own school district, which was merged with that of Scotia
Scotia, Nebraska
Scotia is a village in Greeley County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 308 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Scotia is located at ....
.
2010 flood
On June 12, 2010, the privately owned Bredthauer Dam, located 4.5 miles (7.2 km) upstream from North Loup on Mira Creek, broke due to heavy rain, flooding rural Valley County. Major flooding occurred in North Loup, with water "eight inches deep and running down Main Street." The village was evacuated for the duration of the flood.Geography
North Loup is located at 41.494856°N 98.771253°W (41.494856, -98.771253). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 339 people, 159 households, and 83 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 823.8 people per square mile (319.2/km2). There were 192 housing units at an average density of 466.6 per square mile (180.8/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.35% White, 1.77% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.36% of the population.
There were 159 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 1.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.2% were non-families. 42.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 31.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $20,288, and the median income for a family was $25,750. Males had a median income of $21,750 versus $15,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $12,672. About 22.1% of families and 24.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.